No Use Crying

The High Lords Council had just one objection: Lin En taking command of the Mantis Warriors as well.

They agreed to replace the Edict of Excommunication with a Penitent Crusade, but they absolutely would not allow Lin En to control two Chapters that had rebelled.

The High Lords Council would formally raise this objection with the Lord Regent later.

It had nothing to do with personal grudges.

Letting two Chapters that had rebelled together operate together again was absurd. The Imperium could never allow it.

The Mantis Warriors and the Lamenters had to be sent to opposite ends of the Imperium, one west and one east, and kept apart permanently. Both Chapter Masters also had to be imprisoned for life in a maximum-security prison run by the Inquisition.

The Inquisition had a classified maximum-security prison called the Penitent Cage, built specifically to hold high-ranking Astartes officers who had turned traitor. Astartes officers guilty of grave crimes were imprisoned there for life.

The High Lords Council believed that although the Edict of Excommunication had been too harsh, both Chapters had committed acts of rebellion during the Badab War. Whether they had been deceived or not, Imperial loyalists had died because of their actions.

That was a crime that could not be undone.

They fully respected the Emperor's decree, but asked Lin En to consider their concern about allowing two Chapters that had rebelled together to operate together again.

Inquisitor Vandel placed the High Lords Council's notice on the table and pushed it toward Lin En.

"If you have no objections, please sign the revised decree."

Lin En glanced down at the Imperial Aquila stamped into the parchment's wax seal. Without opening the document, he pushed it back toward Inquisitor Vandel.

"Sorry, I do have an objection."

"..." Inquisitor Vandel's hand froze